Block-molding machine



Feb. 9 1926.

A. P. NELSON BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE Filed June 8, 1925 imrf dim ever I? A e/Jail gfiw/a a JIM/2y;

Patented. Feb. 9, 1926.

. ANDERS P. NELSON, OF SPENCER, IOWA.

I BlBOCK-MOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed June 8, 1925. Serial No. 35,702.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDERS P. NELSON, a citizen of the United States,'r esiding at Spencer, in the county of Clay and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful. Block-Molding- Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a molding machine for the making of blocks, such as cement building blocks, which is simple and durable and inexpensive as an article of manufacture.

A further object isto provide a molding machine with the parts arranged in a manner whereby it can be easily and quickly operated by the molder.

Still a further object is to provide in such a machine, means for raising the cores and mold box and allowing the block to remain on the pallet.

Still a further object is to provide for slightly raising the cores before raising the mold box.

Still a further object is to provide a hollow space in the cores in communication with the atmosphere so that when the cores are raised, air is introduced into the core space of the blocks so as to prevent their collapse as would be the caseif the cores are not so made.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvedmolding machine.

Figure 2 is an end view ,of my improved molding machine.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is the type of block which can be molded in the machine illustrated.

On the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral'lO to indicate the legs of a frame A.

The various views of the drawing illustrate my molding machine in position to re ceive a charge of block forming composition which'is usuall cement.

The pallet 11 is placed on the frame A and is positioned between the cross bars 12 of the core box B, as shown in Figure 3. The mold box B is composed of side members 13 secured to the cross bars 12.

The end members 14 are bolted at 15 to the side members 13 as shown in the partial section in Figure 1.

Acore assembly 0, comprising cores 16 andwa hollow bar 17 which connects them, is supported in notches 18 in the end bers 14 of the mold box B.

The cores 16 are hollow as at 20, and this hollow space is in communication with the hollow space 21 of the bar 17. The hollow space 21 is in communication with the atmosphere at the end and through holes 22. The holes 22 are provided in case the ends of the space 21 become filled with cement.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a block may be molded by pouring cement into the space D of such consistency that it will retain its form upon removal of the core box B and cores C.

The cement is placed into the core box B around the cores 16 and then tamped. The top is then leveled off with a scraper.

When withdrawing the cores 0, air will be introduced into the core space in the block by passing through the passages ,21, 22 and 20. This will prevent the collapse of the cement into the core space which would be the result if solid cores were used, because they would cause a partial vacuum in the core spaces.

The cores 16 and bar 17 could be solid, and only a small hole drilled through bar and cores from end to end of the cores 16. This would accomplish the same result. We have shown the spaces 21, 22 and 20 large as this reduces the weight of material used in the core assembly C.

For raising the core box B, and the core assembly O above the top of a freshly molded block for the purpose of removing the same from the machine, I have provided the following described mechanism.

Mounted in bearings 23 is a shaft 24. Secured to one end of the shaft 24 is a bell crank lever 25 having an operating lever 26. Secured to the other end of the shaft 24 is a lever 27.

Elevator rods 30 are slidably mounted on the ends of the frame A in bearings 31. They are connected by connecting bars 29, and extend upward through openings 32 in the cross bar 12 of the mold box B.

' drawing mold Stop bars 33 are inserted in holesthrough the rods 30 and normally rest a slight distance below the cross bars 12.

The connecting bars 29 are operatively connected'to the levers 25 and 27 by links 2 8.

Core elevating rods 34 are secured to the connecting bars 29, and extend upward through the openings 36 in thecross bars 12 and against the ends of the bar 17, as at 35.

From theforegoing, it will be seen that slight movement of the operating lever 26 in the direction of the arrow 37 will cause a corresponding upward movement of the core assembly C until the stop bars 33 engage the lower surfaces of the cross bars 12 whereupon continued movement of the lever 26 will raise core assembly C and core box B in unison until the lever 25 strikes the stop 38, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2, molded block may be removed.

The lever 26- stays in this position due to the over center relation of the pivot between it and the link 28 to the centerpf the shaft 20 and the pivot on the bar 29.

In this connection, it will be noted that the pallet 11 is larger than the block so that it may be transferred with the block thereon to .a drying place.

In the type of machine having a pallet the size of the block and raising pallet, and block through-the mold box, the block cannot be handled as conveniently as with a larger pallet, and is more apt to get broken.

The reason for raising the cores 16 before the core box B is so that they may be loosened from the block by their movement before the mold box is loosened. It thus requires less energy than if the cores and box were raised simultaneously. The box will furthermore be more apt to stay on the pallet 11 than if the mold box and cores were raised together as the friction between their surface, and that of the block, would then be about twice as great.

My mold box and cores may be designed so that they mold a block slightly smaller at the top than at the bottom. Then after molded and set, :they check up This is due to the fact than in withbox and core, the bottom being on the pallet is not disturbed, and the top is disturbed by withdrawing mold box and cores, and therefore, settles and spreads slightly.

The mold box B may be of a different they are square.

shape and may be used, together with a corresponding core assembly, for molding different shaped or sized blocks, either cored or solid.

The block 39 is one molded by the illus trated molding machine, and shows the depressions 40 left by the end members 14 and the core spaces 41 left by the core assembly at which time the freshly in said cores C. The

groove 42 is left by the bar 17, and is a desirable feature in building blocks.

I have found by experiment that when the cement is, of proper consistency for forming the best block, the block will readily leave the mold by its own weight and remain on the pallet and after settling and drying will have the proper shape.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangements of the various parts of my invention, without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it 1s my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure oruse of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A block molding machine comprising a frame for supporting the pallet, a mold box supported on said pallet comprising side and end members, hollow. cores resting on said pallet within said mold box, a hollow bar connecting said cores, the hollow space in said cores being in communication with the .hollow space in said bar.

2. A b ock molding machine comprising a frame for supporting the pallet, a mold box supported on said pallet comprising side and end members, hollow cores resting on said pallet within said mold box a hollow bar connectin said cores, the hollowspace being in communication with the hollow space in said bar, means controllable by a lever for raising said mold box and said core for leaving the block on said pallet.

. 3. A block molding machine comprising a frame for supporting the pallet, a mold box supported on said pallet comprising side and end members, hollow cores resting on said pallet within said mold box, a hollow bar connecting said cores, the hollow space in saidcores being in communication with the hollow space in said bar, means for fiIZSt slightly raising saidcores and said hollow bar and then further raising said cores,

hollow bar and mold box for allowing the removal of the block and said pallet.

4. A block molding machine comprising a frame for supporting the pallet, a mold box su ported on said pallet comprising side an end members, hollow cores resting on said pallet within said mold box, a hollow bar connectingtesaid cores, the hollow space in said cores ing in communication with the hollow space in said bar, means con- 'block and said pallet.

5. A machine of the class described including a frame for supporting the pallet, a mold box supported on said pallet comprising side membersconnected by cross bars at each end, end members supported between said side members near the ends thereof,

hollow cores resting on said pallet within said mold box and connected by a hollow bar, the end of which extends beyond said end members, the hollow spaces in said cores being in communication with the atmosphere through the hollow space in said hollow bar, and means for first slightly raising said cores and hollow bar and then raising said cores, hollow bar and mold box for allowing the withdrawal of said pallet and the block thereon.

6. A machine of the class described including a frame for supporting the pallet, a

mold box supported on said pallet comprising side members connected by cross bars at each end, end members supported between said side members near the ends thereof on said cross bars,'hollow cores resting onisaid pallet within said mold box and connected by a hollow bar the end of which extends beyond said end members, the hollow spaces in said cores being in communication with the atmosphere through the hollow space in said hollow bar and means, said means comprising elevatorrods slidably mounted at' the ends of said frame and extending through openings in said cross bars, stops on said rods for engaging said cross bars and raising said mold box and cores upon vertical movement upward of said elevator rods raising said cores, hollow-bar and mold box for allowing withdrawal of said pallet and the block thereon.

7. A machine of the class described includin a frame for supporting the pallet, a mold box sup orted on said pallet comprising side mem ers connected by cross bars at each end, end members supported between said side members near the ends thereof hollow cores resting on said pallet within said mold box and connected by a hollow bar the end of which extends beyond said end members, the hollow spaces in said co es being in communication with the atmosphere through the hollow space in said hollow bar and means, said means comprising elevator rods slidably mounted at the ends of said frame and extending through openings in said cross bars, a'lever for sliding said elevator rods relative to said frame, stops on said rods for engaging said cross bars and raising said mold box and cores upon vertical movement upward of said elevator rods ra1sing said cores, hollow barand mold box for allowing withdrawal of said pallet and the block thereon.

8. A machine of the class described including a framefor supporting the pallet,

' a mold box suppgrted on said pallet comprising side mem rs connected by cross bars at each end, end members supported between said side members near the ends thereof,

hollow cores resting on said pallet within 7 5 said mold box and connected by a hollow bar, the end of which extends beyond said end members, the hollow spaces in said cores being in communication with the atmosphere through the hollow space in said hollow bar, and means for first slightly raising said cores and hollow bars and then raising said cores, hollow bar and mold box for allowing the withdrawal of said pallet and the block thereon, said means comprising elevator rods slidably mounted on the ends of said frame and extending through openings in said cross bars, stops on said rods for engaging said cross bars, a coreelevating rod slidably mounted through said cross pieces and engaging the ends of said hollow bar,

the other ends'of said core elevating. rods secured to said elevator rods whereby movement of said elevator rods will raise said cores, hollow bar and mold' box as hereinbefore specified.

9. A machine of the class described including a frame for supporting the pallet. a mold box supported on said pallet comprising side members connected by cross bars at each end, end members supported between 1 said side members near the ends thereof, hollow cores resting on said pallet within said mold box and connected by a hollow bar, the end of which extends beyond said end members, the hollow spaces in said cores being in communication with the atmosphere through the hollow space in said hollow bar, and means for first slightly raising said cores and hollow bar and then raising said cores, hollow bar and mold box for allowing withdrawal of said pallet and the block thereon, said means comprising elevator rods slidably mounted on the ends of said frame and extending through openings in said .cross bars, stops on said rods for engaging said cross bars, a core elevating rod slidably mounted through said cross ieces and engaging the ends of said hollow ar, the other ends of said core elevating rods secured to said elevator rods whereby movement of said elevator rods will raise said cores, and hollow bar and mold box as hereinbefore specified.

10. A machine of the class described includin a frame for supporting the pallet,

a mol box supported on said pallet comprising slide members connected by cross bars at each end, end members supported between said side members near the ends thereof, hollow cores resting on said pallet within said mold box and connected by a hollow bar, the ends of'which extend beyond said. end members, the hollow spaces in said coresbeing in communication with the atmosphere through the hollow space in sa d hollow bar, and means for first slightly ra sing said cores and hollow bar, and then raisin said'cores, hollow bar and mold box for alfiiwing the withdrawal of-said pallet and the block thereon, said means comprising elevator rods slidably mounted on the ends of said frame and extending through openings in said cross bars, stops on said rods for en a ing said cross bars, a-core elevating re s idably mounted through said cross ieces and engaging the ends of said hollow ar, the other ends of said core elevating rods secured to a connector bar which connects said elevator rods whereby movement of said elevator rods will slightly raise said cores-and hollow baiywhereupon said stops on said elevator rods will engage said cross bars and the cores, hollow bar and mold box will then be raised as a unit substantially as described.

11. A block molding machine comp'risin a frame for supporting the pallet, a mold box supported on said pallet, hollow cores resting on said pallet within, said mold box, a hollow bar c'onnecti'n said cores, the hol-- low space in said cores ing in communication with the hollow space in said bar, saidhollow space in said her bein in communication with the atmosphere w iereby air will be introduced into the'jcore spaces of the v block upon the withdrawal of said cores therefrom for the purposes stated.

Des Moines, Iowa, May 11, 1925.

. ANDERS P. NELSON. 

